diff --git a/e2e/invoice-pay.spec.ts b/e2e/invoice-pay.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01cfa139
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/invoice-pay.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+// Characterization spec for the Invoice Pay wizard (the first genuine multi-data-step
+// wizard: choose-method -> payment-details, merged at submit). Captures CURRENT
+// (pre-migration) behavior so the migration onto the session-backed engine can be proven
+// behavior-preserving. The seed's lone unpaid invoice (UNPAID-001, Test Vendor, $150,
+// client TEST) is payable; its client has one visible check bank account (Test Checking).
+test.beforeEach(async ({ request }) => { await request.post('/test-reset'); });
+
+// Select the unpaid invoice on the grid and open the pay wizard (choose-method step).
+async function openPayWizard(page: any) {
+  await page.setExtraHTTPHeaders({ 'x-clients': '"mine"' });
+  await page.goto('/invoice');
+  await page.waitForSelector('#entity-table tbody tr');
+  await page.locator('#entity-table tbody input[type="checkbox"]').first().click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(300);
+  // #pay-button's container hx-gets /invoice/pay on click; wait for the wizard to land.
+  await page.locator('#pay-button').first().click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(900);
+}
+
+// The bank-account card's method options (print-check / debit / handwrite-check) live in a
+// <template x-ref="tooltip"> revealed by clicking the card's tooltip button; open it.
+async function openMethodTooltip(page: any) {
+  await page.locator('button[x-ref="button"]').first().click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(400);
+}
+
+// Advance choose-method -> payment-details by picking a method (each is an hx-put to
+// .../pay/navigate?to=:payment-details carrying step-params[method]).
+async function pickMethod(page: any, method: string) {
+  await openMethodTooltip(page);
+  await page.locator(`[hx-vals*="${method}"]`).first().click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(900);
+}
+
+test.describe.configure({ mode: 'serial' });
+
+test.describe('Invoice Pay wizard (characterization)', () => {
+  test('choose-method step renders the bank account and its payment methods', async ({ page }) => {
+    await openPayWizard(page);
+    const body = page.locator('body');
+    await expect(body).toContainText('Payment method');
+    await expect(body).toContainText('Test Checking');
+    // a check account offers print-check / debit / handwrite-check (in the card's tooltip)
+    await openMethodTooltip(page);
+    expect(await page.locator('[hx-vals*="handwrite-check"]').count()).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(await page.locator('[hx-vals*="print-check"]').count()).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  });
+
+  test('picking handwrite-check advances to the payment-details step', async ({ page }) => {
+    await openPayWizard(page);
+    await pickMethod(page, 'handwrite-check');
+    const body = page.locator('body');
+    await expect(body).toContainText('Check number'); // handwrite-check-only field
+    await expect(body).toContainText('Date');         // check date
+    await expect(body.locator('button:has-text("Pay"), a:has-text("Pay")').first()).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('completing a handwritten-check payment shows the success modal', async ({ page }) => {
+    await openPayWizard(page);
+    await pickMethod(page, 'handwrite-check');
+    // step 2 collects the check number; method (step 1) + check-number (step 2) combine at submit
+    // scope to the wizard form (the background grid filters also have a check-number input)
+    await page.locator('#wizard-form input[name*="check-number"]').first().fill('10001');
+    await page.waitForTimeout(150);
+    // the footer submit button (x-ref="next"), not the background #pay-button
+    await page.locator('[x-ref="next"]').first().click();
+    await page.waitForTimeout(1500);
+    // the submit transacts a pending check payment and swaps in the completion modal
+    await expect(page.locator('body')).toContainText('payment is complete');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/clj/auto_ap/test_server.clj b/test/clj/auto_ap/test_server.clj
index ec683a54..4e69084c 100644
--- a/test/clj/auto_ap/test_server.clj
+++ b/test/clj/auto_ap/test_server.clj
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
                                 [(assoc (test-client :db/id "client-id"
                                                      :client/code "TEST"
                                                      :client/locations ["DT"])
-                                        :client/bank-accounts [(test-bank-account :db/id "bank-account-id" :bank-account/code "TEST-CHK")])
+                                        :client/bank-accounts [(test-bank-account :db/id "bank-account-id" :bank-account/code "TEST-CHK"
+                                                                                  :bank-account/visible true :bank-account/name "Test Checking")])
                                  (test-client :db/id "client-id-2"
                                               :client/code "TEST2"
                                               :client/locations ["NY"])